Astronauts stranded on the space station keep busy by making pizzas and dressing up as pirates.
US citizens Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore found themselves stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) in June when the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they arrived on was deemed unsafe to fly back.
They were hoping to spend eight days on the ISS, but are now scheduled to return home in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.
Although astronauts are tasked with completing scientific tasks, some room is also provided for fun.
Earlier this month, Williams and Wilmore were spotted making pizza in the ISS galley, located inside the Unity module.
Joined by fellow NASA astronauts Jeanette Epps and Tracy C. Dyson, the team had to secure objects and components to the galley using tape and Velcro to prevent them from flying away in the microgravity environment.
On Sept. 19, Suni Williams wore the appropriate attire while celebrating her birthday during International Talk Like a Pirate Day aboard the International Space Station.
However, Suni Williams will now have greater responsibilities as she has been named commander of the space station on Sunday (Sept. 22).
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko handed over leadership of ISS Expedition 71 to Williams at a change of command ceremony.
NASA said on Tuesday (Sept. 24): “Expedition 72 has officially begun on the International Space Station with NASA astronaut Suni Williams as commander.”
” When NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub undocked from the Prichal docking module on Monday, Williams assumed command of the orbital outpost.
“Williams, who arrived at the station on June 6 with NASA Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore, will lead orbital outpost operations until February, when she and Wilmore are scheduled to return to Earth with SpaceX Crew-9 members on the Dragon Endurance spacecraft.”
The space agency outlined new tasks for the two, saying “Williams was busy preparing standard emergency equipment ahead of the upcoming arrival of Crew-9 on Tuesday. Wilmore explored how special substances gel and thicken, potentially leading to advances in the pharmaceutical, food and 3D-printing industries.”
